Divine Soldiers & Pressing Decrees: An Incantation V

作品賞析

HSIAO Chu-Sheng’s Divine Soldiers & Pressing Decrees: An Incantation V gives a sketch of the religious activities of Taiwan’s people using a style imitating that of silk paintings found in Han Dynasty tombs. In this piece, young students in athletic garb strike poses next to different religious objects and images, hinting at the types of religious processions and festivals that Taiwanese primary and secondary school students take part in. Hsiao pairs the images with arcane text that has no direct link to the images, symbolizing real-life intercultural incompatibilities that lead to misunderstandings, while also reflecting the religious values of these young students in an attempt to get us to notice the social phenomena derived from their participation in religious activities. Hsiao’s painting is both traditional and modern, imaginatively blending a 2,000-year-old style of painting with scenes from modern society, a robust style expressing deep narrative content.